Lay summary
New Zealand has a significant problem with family violence and strangulation, evidenced by 1246 charges of strangulation being laid after becoming a separate offence in December 2018. Strangulation characteristically leaves few marks or signs, which presents a unique challenge for health professionals to recognise the health consequences that come from non-fatal strangulation.
Being able to understand first responders (GP’s, nurses etc) perceptions of non-fatal strangulation, and its long-term consequences is important to be able to start to develop prevention tools to deal with the mental health complications arising from strangulation.
A scoping review of international literature and a survey of front-line responders will provide the foundational evidence for the development of a larger study that will ultimately support change in policy and practice delivery in the management of non-fatal strangulation in intimate partner violence and sexual assault situations.